Variable height table



April 8, 1958 H. N. ANDERSON 2,829,936

VARIABLE HEIGHT TABLE Filed Feb. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I'l I l llll 1m I I I I Fig.3

Harry N. Anderson INVENTOR. /4 /2 April 8, 1958 H. N. ANDERSON VARIABLE HEIGHT TABLE Filed Feb. 21, 1957 '28 Fig.4

I l l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

Harry N. Anderson INVENTOR. I

Mao/$2M M -Mm,

n t d aten 2,829,936 VARIABLE HEIGHT TABLE Harry N. Anderson, Barton, Vt. Application February 21, 1957, Serial N6. 641,671 3 Claims. (Cl. s11 9s The present invention relates to folding and convertible tables, generally speaking, and has reference in particular to a novel and structurally distinct table for cottage, home and efliciency apartment use, where for example, available space is often at a premium.

More specifically, the concept has to do with a so-called high-low table which when it is down serves as a cocktail or coffee table, which when needed raises up to a higher level for dining, does so with finger-tip pressure, fulfills the recognized need and growing trend for a multipurpose table which adapts itself to the comfort of users seated on a sofa or lounging height chair and, consequently, makes guests and others feel comfortable and at home.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a convertible multipurpose table which is adaptable for acceptable use in ones dining room, kitchen, living room or elsewhere by reason of the fact that it solves some of the home problems involving economical usefulness and which is equally desirable in that it may be designed and constructed in keeping with the mode of the moment and may be beautifully finished to harmonize with any given room furniture arrangement.

Not only is the table such in construction as to comply with manufacturing and economies of manufacturers and suitability for varying design requirements, it is sturdy, simple in construction, easy to raise and lower and, what is highly important, the leg frames thereof are foldably mounted and are capable of being nested into compact relationship for practical shipping, handling and storage in.the house or elsewhere. A preferred embodiment of the invention is that which is characterized by a top provided on its bottom side with a fixed frame embodying longitudinal frame members bers, and a pair of leg-frames each having a pair of spaced parallel legs and means at the upper end portions and hingedly connecting the,

of the leg-frames slidingly I respective leg-frames to the longitudinal frame members in such a manner'that the legs of the frames are hinged in crossed or X-shaped relationship, means being provided to aptly and satisfactorily lock the'leg-frames in their respectively usable-high and low positions.

Features and advantages not touched upon above will become more readily apparent from the following descrip-- tion of the details taken in conjunction "with the appearingin the accompanying sheet of drawings. 1

In the drawings, wherein like numeralsare employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved convertible or variable height table showing the same in its low or coffee table" position.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same with the legs folded and the table ready for shipping or storage as the case may be.

Figure 3 is an edge or side elevation with a portion of one of the frame members broken through and shown in section to reveal one of the grooves and how the cooperating leg-frame is connected therewith.

views and transverse frame mem- 2,829,936 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 Figure 4 is a view in section and elevation which may be said to be a central longitudinal section taken through the structure seen in Figure 1 and which, in addition, shows in phantom lines, the extended or elevating positions of the leg frames.

Figure 5 is a cross-section on the vertical line 55 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing certain of the details, taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a transverse section with parts appearing in elevation.

Referring now to the drawings with reference numerals the table top, which may be said to be more or less conventional in form, is denoted by the numeral 10. As before mentioned, there is a frame 12 mounted on the underside thereof providing a skirt and this embodies spaced parallel longitudinal frame members 14 and trans verse end members 16. As seen in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 the inward vertical surfaces of the longitudinal frame members are provided at their respective ends with rela tively short horizontal or lengthwise grooves 18 which provide channel-like keyways. These grooves range inwardly from the transverse outer frame members 16 and are limited in length as is evident from Figs. 3 and 6. As shown in Figures 2 and 5 the inner vertical surfaces of the transverse frame members 16 are provided with short vertical grooves or auxiliary keyways 20 to accommodate slidingly keyed portions 22 (Figure 2) of the retainer means. This means is preferably an inner frame, that is, a frame 24 which is located beneath the table top and within the confines of the outer fixed frame. It is characterized by a pair of spaced parallel rails 26 the underneath sides of which are provided with inward pairs of keeper notches 28 and outward pairs of longitudinally spaced keeper notches 30. As 'is necessary in this struction the frame24 also has transverse frame members 32 and on the underneath side of the intermediate portion of each there is a boss 34 providing a finger button. The frame ,24, as a unit, being slidably keyed, as already explained is forced downwardly by way of appropriately arranged expansion type c011 springs 36 interposed between the bottom 'of the top and the rails 26 (see Figure 5). Thus the top embodies inner and outer frames with the outer frame fixed and the inner frame slidingly mounted and spring biased to function as a retainer for the pairs of leg frames 38 and 40 respectively. Each leg frame is the same in construction except that the inner leg frame 40 is smaller than the outer leg frame 38 so that the legs thereof may fold together. In this connec tion the outer legs are denoted by the numeral 42 and the inner ones by thenumeral 44. They are connected together by transverse braces 46. It will be noticed that the pivoted legs of the respective leg frames are adapted to provide the crossed or X-shaped relationship illustrated in the drawings. The upperends of the respective legs are connected together by a horizontal round or dowel 48. In fact, the legs are fixed thereto and the dowel forms a sliding and rocker connection. portions 49 legs and are tive keying grooves 18; as shown in;Fig.--7.

As is obvious this mode of slidably keying and hin gin g The end i of the dowel extend outwardly beyond the' slidingly and hingedly keyed'in' their ISPC:Q

aeaaesa,

the springpressedframe .24

' ingly and hingedly keyed intheir respective grooves, andserves to firmly press and. bindthe dowels in placeIand.

consequently the legframes are sustained. in. the given position. By the same token spread apart as shown for instance in Figure 4 wherein the dowels are then lodged and firmly. held-in the. outward ly disposed keeper notches 30.

Pivotally mounted on the inner end portion of the 1on gitudinal frame members are gravity type latches Q50. There are four of these latches andtheyare pivotedso that the pivot point 52 is between the center and,.outer. end. The'outer end .portion is free as at54.and. located above the top surface of themanually 'depressedon operable frame member 32; These latchesserve -as stops.

and-limit the outward movement of the dowelso that they;v

are easily seated in the keeper notches 30andtherefore do not move outwardly and beyond said keeper notches.

It will be evident thatwhen and by liftingthe table, the table legs are freed from the locking bar notchesand move inward to the high position notches and. are. held. rigidly in positionby the of the spring pressed rails. It is to be stated in ..this.-connection that it is within the purview of the invention; to use, instead of a pair of rails 26 a single, spring ,p ressed slidably mounted rail (not shown). It follows:that\ the invention is susceptible of being carried out in various table constructions whether small or the so-called low price or high priced category. I

The table is made in various styles if desired In ,fa,ct, the table can be usedplus a drop leaf (not. shown) ;fqr

thepurpose of providing a larger but nevertheless. cormpact type table. It lends itself to use as a' card.ta ble, dinette table, console table or even an end table.

To fold flat for storage, and other purposes by asirnple operation fold the table with the hands, one on each end, then turn the table upside down, and at the-same time press the lock bar ends and the table will foldgfiat. The construction allows the fall clearing movement of the dowels to pass by the low positionvnotches 30; It follows that the purpose of gthe latches50 is to stop the leg-frames at thelow positionby preventingthe, dowelsfrorn passing the low table posi: tion, keeper notches 30. These latches drop; clear ,of the dowels when thetable is in the upside-down position. so that .the legscan foldflat.

the leg-frames. may beretentive and locking action v large and whether in low position latches 5'0..-to

The. foregoing is consideredas illustrative only of the.

principles." of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications, and. changes will ;readily, occur, to thosev skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and and accordingly all suitable modifications and. equiva lents may be. resorted to, invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:as;follows: 1. A variable high-low rigid top having a bottom side;provide d with a rigidly attachedframe .having' side and endframe members, said side members having opposedlengthwise.keyinggrooves situated adjacent the respective end portions .onsaidside.

members, a pair of companion leg-frames havingcrossed. the upper end portions-'- X-type pivotally connected legs,

operation shown and described,

falling within the scope of the.

folding table comprising; a

of said leg-frames having dowels with their ends slidmanually depressible spring-biased frame structure operatively mounted within the encompassing limits of said first named frame, said spring-biased frame structure be ing rectangular in form and comprising a pair of longitudinal rails having longitudinally spaced selectively usable keeper notches thereing alsozhaving transverse frame members adjacent to the transverse ends of the table top and accessible for easy manualusage.

2. A variablehigh-low folding .tablecomprising a rigid top having ,a bottom side provided with a rigidly attached depending skirt-like frame embodying side members'connected together by end members, the interior surfaces of said side members being provided adjacent the respective end portion of the side members with longitudinally extending keying grooves, each groove extending from the transverse membertoward the median portion of the companion side member and terminating at, a predetermined place, a pair of leg frames, each leg framehaving a pair of spaced parallel legs and the adjacent andcooperating legs having median portions cro'ssed'and pivotally. connected together in requisite companion relationship, the upper end portions of the legs of 'the respective leg frames being connected together. by dowels and. the end portions of the dowels projecting beyond the respective legs and being slidingly' springs serving to normally press the transverse end members of the second frame into flush relationship with the transversejmembersof the first named frame and being adapted'to be manually pressed to bodily move.

the second named frame toward. and from the table top, and the longitudinal members of the second named frame beingprovided with longitudinally spaced selectively usaable keeper notches for retentive reception of cooperating portions of the dowels" 3; The structure definedin claim 2 and wherein the longitudinal. members of the inner end' portions of the frame having anvinner, pairof keeper notches cooperablel with .eachother. andflocated approximately opposite ad jacent end' portions of the inner ends of said keying groove's' andanouter pair of keeper notches, the notches in the .outer pair beinglocated opposite also oppositethe outwardend portions of said-grooves.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 246,217 Sargent, Aug- 23, 1881 348,201v Goodnow "Aug, 31, 1886 631,556 Bushnell, Aug. 22, 1899 1,934,364 King Mar. 12, 1935 2,495,965., Gustaveson Jan..31,v 1950 2,692,807 Cordola; ,Oct. 26,-,1954 2,788,252 Davisl Apr; 9, 1957 surface. of said table top. and longitudinal members of said inner frame, the coil each other and. 

